Family hopes for unsolved case's resolution

Man accused of killing wife 14 years ago scheduled for trial in October

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer

Published: Monday, February 25, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 10:57 p.m.

The question of who killed Desta Dodson-Byrd 14 years ago has gone unsolved for more than a decade.

As the years passed, Desta's parents, Vonciel and Ronnie Dodson, would visit her grave each anniversary of her death and wonder if she would ever receive justice.

Today, on the 14th anniversary, they have hope that the case may be resolved by the end of this year.

A trial for Desta's husband, Jody Byrd, is set for October. Investigators didn't charge him until May 2011, 12 years after he called 911 to say he had found her dead in the driveway of their Brierfield home.

“We can never have closure, because we can never bring her back,” Vonciel Dodson said. “It will give us some comfort, after all these years of not knowing anything.”

Someone shot Dodson-Byrd, 29, with a shotgun at her home in eastern Bibb County on

Feb. 25, 1999.

Investigators with the Alabama Bureau of Investigations, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office and the Bibb County district attorney's office began to review the case a few years ago when they were approached by friends of Dodson-Byrd, who formed a group called “Justice For Desta.” The group was fueled mainly by Dodson-Byrd's friend, Christine Shattuck, and her friend, Ann Coyle, who refused to let the case grow cold.

A new wave of attention was focused on the case in 2011, when the group had billboards placed in Jefferson County that showed a photograph of the striking young woman and the message “Because no one should get away with murder.”

The investigators presented evidence to a grand jury, which issued an indictment charging that Byrd killed his wife to collect proceeds from an insurance policy. Byrd is charged with capital murder and is free on $750,000 bond.

The Dodsons credit Desta's friends for keeping her memory alive and pushing for authorities to take another look at the investigation.

“That just shows the impact that she had on her friends,” Ronnie Dodson said. “People will tell us that if they ever felt bad, they would talk to her and she would be so encouraging. She always had a big smile and was so big-hearted. She was beautiful inside and out.”

Dodson-Byrd had been saving her money to buy a Corvette. She was a fan of the rock band Def Leppard, and can be seen in the front row in concert footage featured in two of their videos. She was an animal lover who volunteered at the Humane Society.

Dodson-Byrd was close with her family, her mother said, and even worked in the Social Security Administration office in Birmingham alongside her mother and aunts. She had dreams of becoming a fashion designer, her father said.

“She was killed at such a young age. She never got to realize her dreams,” he said.

The Dodsons said that they occasionally look through boxes containing items they collected as Desta grew up. She wasn't the type to give a card with just a signature.

“She would write a long, thoughtful note,” Vonciel Dodson said. “She was always writing us notes. It's amazing to be able to go through these things, but it's heartbreaking.”

Byrd's capital murder trial is scheduled to take place in Bibb County on Oct. 28. Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey was appointed to prosecute the case last year because the Bibb County district attorney has a full case load.

<p>The question of who killed Desta Dodson-Byrd 14 years ago has gone unsolved for more than a decade. </p><p>As the years passed, Desta's parents, Vonciel and Ronnie Dodson, would visit her grave each anniversary of her death and wonder if she would ever receive justice. </p><p>Today, on the 14th anniversary, they have hope that the case may be resolved by the end of this year.</p><p>A trial for Desta's husband, Jody Byrd, is set for October. Investigators didn't charge him until May 2011, 12 years after he called 911 to say he had found her dead in the driveway of their Brierfield home. </p><p>“We can never have closure, because we can never bring her back,” Vonciel Dodson said. “It will give us some comfort, after all these years of not knowing anything.”</p><p>Someone shot Dodson-Byrd, 29, with a shotgun at her home in eastern Bibb County on </p><p>Feb. 25, 1999. </p><p>Investigators with the Alabama Bureau of Investigations, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office and the Bibb County district attorney's office began to review the case a few years ago when they were approached by friends of Dodson-Byrd, who formed a group called “Justice For Desta.” The group was fueled mainly by Dodson-Byrd's friend, Christine Shattuck, and her friend, Ann Coyle, who refused to let the case grow cold.</p><p>A new wave of attention was focused on the case in 2011, when the group had billboards placed in Jefferson County that showed a photograph of the striking young woman and the message “Because no one should get away with murder.”</p><p>The investigators presented evidence to a grand jury, which issued an indictment charging that Byrd killed his wife to collect proceeds from an insurance policy. Byrd is charged with capital murder and is free on $750,000 bond.</p><p>The Dodsons credit Desta's friends for keeping her memory alive and pushing for authorities to take another look at the investigation.</p><p>“That just shows the impact that she had on her friends,” Ronnie Dodson said. “People will tell us that if they ever felt bad, they would talk to her and she would be so encouraging. She always had a big smile and was so big-hearted. She was beautiful inside and out.”</p><p>Dodson-Byrd had been saving her money to buy a Corvette. She was a fan of the rock band Def Leppard, and can be seen in the front row in concert footage featured in two of their videos. She was an animal lover who volunteered at the Humane Society.</p><p>Dodson-Byrd was close with her family, her mother said, and even worked in the Social Security Administration office in Birmingham alongside her mother and aunts. She had dreams of becoming a fashion designer, her father said.</p><p>“She was killed at such a young age. She never got to realize her dreams,” he said.</p><p>The Dodsons said that they occasionally look through boxes containing items they collected as Desta grew up. She wasn't the type to give a card with just a signature.</p><p>“She would write a long, thoughtful note,” Vonciel Dodson said. “She was always writing us notes. It's amazing to be able to go through these things, but it's heartbreaking.”</p><p>Byrd's capital murder trial is scheduled to take place in Bibb County on Oct. 28. Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey was appointed to prosecute the case last year because the Bibb County district attorney has a full case load.</p><p>Reach Stephanie Taylor at stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0210.</p>